Elda Mae Steen, 83, Minot, formerly of Maxbass and Glenburn, entered her heavenly home Sunday, February 15, 2015, from Trinity Hospital surrounded by her loving family.

Her funeral service was held Friday, February 20, 2015, at 11:00 a.m. at Bethany Lutheran Church, Minot.
Burial took place at Rosehill Memorial Park, Minot.

Elda Mae was born on November 15, 1931 to Lily (Voth) and Hector Riebhoff in Melcohm Township, McLean County on her grandparent’s farm. She was the only girl and had two older brothers, Earl and Donald. Her father, Hector, passed away from a heart attack in 1934 when she was only 3 ½ years old. Her mom, Lily, married Alvin Simonson in November of that same time and he was the only dad she ever knew. From this union came another brother, Wayne. Elda Mae was raised in Turtle Lake when she was young and moved to Minot with her family when she was about 8 years old.

She married the love of her life, Howland Steen, on September 16, 1955 in Minot, ND. They made their home and raised their family on a farm in Bottineau County. They had six children: Sharon, Becky, Cathy, Howard, Shelly, and Donald. When the children were growing up Elda Mae was a 4-H leader. She was also a member of the local Homemakers group and Trinity Lutheran Church in Glenburn, ND.

Elda Mae loved to cook, bake, and can and the family always had a large garden that included MANY LONG rows of potatoes. Every fall there were hundreds of quarts and pints of canned fruits, vegetables, pickles, tomato juice, catsup, chili sauce, sauerkraut, and anything else you could think of that could be preserved. She also had her family help freeze any other garden produce that wasn’t canned to include strawberries, rhubarb, beans, peas, corn, and squash. What wonderful meals were made and shared from all of this lovingly preserved garden bounty. Her children and older grandchildren remember fondly the meals that were taken to the field every fall during harvest time. Living on the farm she also supervised and helped butcher chickens and pigs. Elda Mae was also a good seamstress and made hooded towels for her grand and great-grandchildren and numerous quilts for her children and grandchildren. She taught her daughters how to sew most of their clothes as well as curtains and home decorating items.

Howland developed health problems later in life and Elda Mae was his devoted caregiver for 13 years. Howland passed away in June of 2004. Elda Mae continued to live on the farm and moved into Minot in 2006. Prior to moving into The View in December of 2014 she had lived in an apartment in the south part of Minot. For the past couple of winters Elda Mae got back her desire to sew and was active in helping the Bethany Quilters make quilts for Lutheran World Relief. Elda Mae had a very strong faith in God and she passed that faith along to her children. Prayers for her children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren were a part of her every morning and evening routine. She was a wonderful loving mother, most favorite mother-in-law, grandmother, and great-grandmother and will be greatly missed by her family and friends.

Her funeral service was held Thursday, February 19, 2015, at 1:00 p.m. at Evanger Lutheran Church, rural Kenmare.

Burial will take place at Evanger Cemetery in the spring of 2015.

Tillie was born November 13, 1924 to Joseph and Mary (Fuchs) Ethen. Tillie was raised on a farm near Tolley, ND. She attended a one room country school and graduated from Tolley High School in 1943.

She worked at the Naval Powder Factory in Indianhead, Maryland during the war. She married George L. Knutson on April 19, 1948 in Tolley and they lived and farmed in Norma, ND, Rockford Township, Renville County. In 1965 they made their home in Kenmare.